written by
Michael Davidson, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Kenneth R. Spring
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is an interactive Java simulation relating to birefringence, also known as double refraction. It depicts the birefringence color chart, a tool developed by 19th Century scientist Auguste Michel-Levy to correlate birefringence, thickness, and optical path difference in analyzing materials. Users can click on the chart to view how polarization colors seen with a microscope are correlated with thickness and retardation values.
This item is part of a larger collection of materials for students of introductory optics and microscopy developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. See Related Items for a full tutorial on birefringence by the same authors.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6767">Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006.</a>
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/).
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring, Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/>.
Davidson, M., Parry-Hill, M., & Spring, K. (2006, June 15). Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart. Retrieved June 13, 2025, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/
Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/ (accessed 13 June 2025).
Davidson, Michael, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Kenneth R. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 1998. 15 June 2006. 13 June 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/>.
@misc{
Author = "Michael Davidson and Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Kenneth R. Spring",
Title = {Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart},
Publisher = {Olympus America, Inc.},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {13 June 2025},
Month = {June 15, 2006},
Year = {1998}
}
%A Michael Davidson %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Kenneth R. Spring %T Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart %D June 15, 2006 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/ %O application/java
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Spring, Kenneth R. %D June 15, 2006 %T Molecular Expressions: Michel-Levy Birefringence Chart %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2025 %N 13 June 2025 %8 June 15, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/michellevylarge/
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This item is the full tutorial relating to birefringence, also known as double refraction of light. It contains an introduction to birefringence and links to several related interactive Java simulations.
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